I am sitting at a bus stop downtown Vancouver. A steady drizzle is falling and the skies are slate gray. Not many people are out and about. It feels rather peaceful. I'm trying to hold on to that peace rather than acknowledge the churning in my stomach.
My son called last night before he turned into bed and was feeling low again. We've talked about how this experience will produce a roller coaster of emotions. Heck, life produces a roller coaster of emotions. But I encouraged him to stay above the emotions. To stay in the present moment and to look for positive rays of light in each day. These are the things I tell myself each day. And I am not in jail!
The waiting and the unknown part of this process are painful. But then so is the food. I asked him how his dinner was and he said like mush.
"Mush?" I asked. "Like oatmeal?"
"No" he said. "Like cat food."
"Thank God for commissary!" I said. I chuckled. He didn't.
But it occurred to me just then that the sacrifices I am making in my daily life are all going to his commissary and his phone bill.
That's how the jail makes money. Well, aside from bail.
I cannot imagine my son living on just jail food. So I've been putting money weekly into his account so that he can get some coffee, tea, pork rinds and tortillas.
My son perks up when he talks about commissary. He's made some friends on his dorm and they get together quite often and do a "spread". I believe I spoken of "the spread" in the blog before.
Its quite clever! They pool all their commissary items together and make a smorgasbord of food. They save meat, cheese. beans and rice from what they've saved from some of their dinners. Then they assemble it, topped with crushesd pork rinds!
It sounds like very interesting burritos! My son promises to make me one when be gets out.
There definitely are some high points in this experience!
Like books. I'm so pleased that he is reading. And with pleasure! Books have been my friend since I was little. And I was always frustrated with the fact that he was not so interested in them as a child. Or as a grown up as well! But he is discovering the joy of reading in jail. He finished the book on the Lewis and Clark expedition. And is now reading about Galileo. I can't wait for our conversations when he gets out!
Speaking of saving money I have discovered the senior coffee at McDonalds. Not only do I have an app that allows me to buy 5 coffees and get one free, now I've discovered that senior coffee is only $0.75! I will be 57 in a few weeks I consider myself a senior. At least I think I'm a senior. Okay, full confession: I have not checked the requirement for senior coffee at McDonalds. God forgive me! I will. Soon I promise!
Other than senior coffee another high point in my life is the completion of my third hat on my round loom! This one has a brim. I am quite pleased with the results!
I knit on the bus, which makes good use of my time. I pray with each stitch- for my son, my family, my friends. Then I say the Lord's Prayer and end with the Jesus Prayer. My loom is like a big, plastic rosary!
It brings me peace to knit, pray and create. Less helpless.
It takes about two days to make each hat. I plan on making them for all of my family members for Christmas. If there is an interest, I may sell them to the public!
Now I need to go prepare for my end of term piano student recital. 28 students performing
I love recitals. I am smiling thinking of all my students playing their little hearts out!
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Zita
https://www.gofundme.com/5qm5r4-please-help-my-son
My son called last night before he turned into bed and was feeling low again. We've talked about how this experience will produce a roller coaster of emotions. Heck, life produces a roller coaster of emotions. But I encouraged him to stay above the emotions. To stay in the present moment and to look for positive rays of light in each day. These are the things I tell myself each day. And I am not in jail!
The waiting and the unknown part of this process are painful. But then so is the food. I asked him how his dinner was and he said like mush.
"Mush?" I asked. "Like oatmeal?"
"No" he said. "Like cat food."
"Thank God for commissary!" I said. I chuckled. He didn't.
But it occurred to me just then that the sacrifices I am making in my daily life are all going to his commissary and his phone bill.
That's how the jail makes money. Well, aside from bail.
I cannot imagine my son living on just jail food. So I've been putting money weekly into his account so that he can get some coffee, tea, pork rinds and tortillas.
My son perks up when he talks about commissary. He's made some friends on his dorm and they get together quite often and do a "spread". I believe I spoken of "the spread" in the blog before.
Its quite clever! They pool all their commissary items together and make a smorgasbord of food. They save meat, cheese. beans and rice from what they've saved from some of their dinners. Then they assemble it, topped with crushesd pork rinds!
It sounds like very interesting burritos! My son promises to make me one when be gets out.
There definitely are some high points in this experience!
Like books. I'm so pleased that he is reading. And with pleasure! Books have been my friend since I was little. And I was always frustrated with the fact that he was not so interested in them as a child. Or as a grown up as well! But he is discovering the joy of reading in jail. He finished the book on the Lewis and Clark expedition. And is now reading about Galileo. I can't wait for our conversations when he gets out!
Speaking of saving money I have discovered the senior coffee at McDonalds. Not only do I have an app that allows me to buy 5 coffees and get one free, now I've discovered that senior coffee is only $0.75! I will be 57 in a few weeks I consider myself a senior. At least I think I'm a senior. Okay, full confession: I have not checked the requirement for senior coffee at McDonalds. God forgive me! I will. Soon I promise!
Other than senior coffee another high point in my life is the completion of my third hat on my round loom! This one has a brim. I am quite pleased with the results!
I knit on the bus, which makes good use of my time. I pray with each stitch- for my son, my family, my friends. Then I say the Lord's Prayer and end with the Jesus Prayer. My loom is like a big, plastic rosary!
It brings me peace to knit, pray and create. Less helpless.
It takes about two days to make each hat. I plan on making them for all of my family members for Christmas. If there is an interest, I may sell them to the public!
 |
| My New Hat- Notice the Brim!! |
I love recitals. I am smiling thinking of all my students playing their little hearts out!
Talk to you soon.
Love,
Zita
https://www.gofundme.com/5qm5r4-please-help-my-son
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